New King James Version
Luke 5:21
21And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
Luke 5:21 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?
- New International Version (NIV)The Pharisees and the teachers of the law began thinking to themselves, “Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
- English Standard Version (ESV)And the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, saying, "Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?"
- New Living Translation (NLT)But the Pharisees and teachers of religious law said to themselves, “Who does he think he is? That’s blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!”
Context of Luke 5:21
19And when they could not find how they might bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the housetop and let him down with his bed through the tiling into the midst before Jesus. 20When He saw their faith, He said to him, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.” And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 22But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, He answered and said to them, “Why are you reasoning in your hearts? 23Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise up and walk’?
Read all of Luke 5Luke 5:21 word by word
καὶ ἤρξαντο διαλογίζεσθαι οἱ γραμματεῖς καὶ οἱ Φαρισαῖοι λέγοντες· τίς ἐστιν οὗτος ὃς λαλεῖ βλασφημίας; τίς δύναται ἁμαρτίας ἀφεῖναι εἰ μὴ μόνος ὁ θεός;¶Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Andκαίkai · andG2532
- the scribesὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- the scribesγραμματεύςgrammateus · scribeG1122
- the PhariseesΦαρισαῖοςPharisaios · PhariseeG5330
- beganἄρχομαιarchomai · to rule/beginG756
- to reasonδιαλογίζομαιdialogizomai · to discussG1260
- sayingλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
- Whoτίςtis · which?G5101
- isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- thisοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
- whichὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
- speakethλαλέωlaleō · to speakG2980
- blasphemiesβλασφημίαblasphēmia · blasphemyG988
- canδύναμαιdunamai · be ableG1410
- forgiveἀφίημιaphiēmi · to release: forgiveG863
- sinsἁμαρτίαhamartia · sinG266
- ·εἰei · if: notG1487
- butμήmē · notG3361
- Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
- aloneμόνοςmonos · aloneG3441
Cross-references for Luke 5:21
- Luke 5:17Now it happened on a certain day, as He was teaching, that there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting by, who had come out of every town of Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was present to heal them.
- Luke 7:49And those who sat at the table with Him began to say to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”
- Mark 2:6And some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts,
- Leviticus 24:16And whoever blasphemes the name of the Lord shall surely be put to death. All the congregation shall certainly stone him, the stranger as well as him who is born in the land. When he blasphemes the name of the Lord, he shall be put to death.
- 1 Kings 21:10and seat two men, scoundrels, before him to bear witness against him, saying, “You have blasphemed God and the king.” Then take him out, and stone him, that he may die.
- Matthew 9:3And at once some of the scribes said within themselves, “This Man blasphemes!”
- Matthew 26:65Then the high priest tore his clothes, saying, “He has spoken blasphemy! What further need do we have of witnesses? Look, now you have heard His blasphemy!
- John 10:33The Jews answered Him, saying, “For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy, and because You, being a Man, make Yourself God.”
- Acts 6:11Then they secretly induced men to say, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.”
- Exodus 34:6And the Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth,
- Psalms 32:5I acknowledged my sin to You, And my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” And You forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah
- Psalms 35:5Let them be like chaff before the wind, And let the angel of the Lord chase them.
- Psalms 103:3Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases,
- Psalms 130:4But there is forgiveness with You, That You may be feared.
- Isaiah 1:18“Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool.
- Isaiah 43:25“I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; And I will not remember your sins.
Commentaries on Luke 5:21
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 21Who can forgive sins, but God alone? - If Jesus were not God, he could not forgive sins; and his arrogating this authority would have been blasphemy against God, in the most proper sense of the word. That these scribes and Pharisees might have the fullest proof of his Godhead, he works in their presence three miracles, which from their nature could only be effected by an omniscient and omnipotent Being. The miracles are: The remission of the poor man's…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 17-26Verses 17-26 See this passage explained in the notes at Matthew 9:1-7. Luke 5:17 On a certain day - The time and place are not particularly mentioned here, but from Matthew 9:1 it seems it was at Capernaum. Luke 5:19 The tiling - See the notes at Matthew 9:1-7.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 17-26Verses 17-26 How many are there in our assemblies, where the gospel is preached, who do not sit under the word, but sit by! It is to them as a tale that is told them, not as a message that is sent to them. Observe the duties taught and recommended to us by the history of the paralytic. In applying to Christ, we must be very pressing and urgent; that is an evidence of faith, and is very pleasing to Christ, and prevailing with him. Give us, Lord, the same…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 17-26The healing of the paralyzed man began the conflicts between Jesus and the religious leaders that continued through his public ministry until his crucifixion in Jerusalem.Read the comment
Topics related to Luke 5:21
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Luke 5
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Catena Aurea
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- John Lightfoot Commentary
- Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries